25 May 2006

South African President Thabo Mbeki and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have thrown their weight behind a planned diplomatic drive by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to find a solution to the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists after meeting Mbeki in London on Wednesday, Blair said he welcomed the fact that the Annan "has indicated that he wishes to be involved in this. He will provide, I know, a wholly independent assessment of the situation there."

Mbeki, leading a high-powered South African delegation on a three-day visit to the British capital, said the UN initiative should be allowed to run its course without prescription from outside.

"I think it is best left to the UN and the Zimbabwe government, and hopefully that will produce an outcome so that we remove this particular matter from the international agenda."

Speaking to the BBC after his talks with Blair on Wednesday, Mbeki defended South Africa's policy on Zimbabwe, saying his government had consistently engaged the Zimbabwean government "to say to them, really they ought to act together as Zimbabwe to find a solution to their problems."

Mbeki told the BBC that the solution to Zimbabwe's problems lay with Zimbabweans, adding that European Union pressure on the Zimbabwean government had failed to change the situation in any way.

"I don't know if any shouting from London is going to get Zimbabweans together - I doubt it very much."

In an earlier interview with London's Financial Times on Wednesday, Mbeki said that Harare had agreed to a visit by Annan.

The UN was more guarded, however. UN chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Reuters that Annan had been exploring whether there could be political or economic movement in Zimbabwe before a possible visit - but added that it was too early to speak of an "initiative" by Annan.

Reuters also reports UN undersecretary-general for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari as saying that it was premature to speculate on a deal being struck involving international aid for Zimbabwe in return for a deadline for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

"Whatever the United Nations can do ... I think it is premature to talk about any package, and certainly even more premature to talk about that package including the possible departure of President Mugabe," Gambari told Reuters.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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	British Prime Minister Tony Blair and South African President Thabo Mbeki address journalists after their meeting at 10 Downing Street, London on 24 May 2006 (Photo: 10 Downing Street)

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	10 Downing Street  South African Goverment Online  Department of Foreign Affairs  SA High Commission, UK  United Nations  African Union

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